6 Simple Ways to Make a Good First Impression Online

You’ve heard it before, I know. You have seconds — seconds — to make a good first impression with your brand.

Depending on who you ask it might be seven seconds. It might be three. It might be a split second.

You’ve got to make an immediate positive impact, or you’re toast. The worst part is that you may never get the chance to make an impression again.

The pressure’s on. Where do you start?

I’m here to tell you that it’s actually not that complicated.

In fact, you’ve probably heard some of this advice before. It may have been in a slightly different context, but it applies to your brand, too.

1. Plan the effect you want to have

Before you develop a brand for your business, you need to have a crystal clear idea of what you want to say and who you want to say it to. Successful brands start out getting to know their audiences well before they try to appeal to them.

Identify who you want to reach, and study this group. It’s easier than ever to join in their discussions, follow their patterns of sharing, and generally stalk them (benevolently) before you try to approach them.

Once you understand them well, formulate a brand message that you’ll communicate consistently using all the tips that follow.

2. Dress the part

An important element of knowing your audience is understanding what motivates them.

Sound like a tall order? It’s not if you dig in and discover what they’re already buying — the brands they already like. Once you’ve got this, you’ll know how to dress the part to fit right in.

Or, you might decide to not fit in, on purpose. That’s a very valid way to make an impression (but it takes courage).

Dressing the part means using a website theme that reflects how you’d like your business to be perceived. It means choosing brand colors,finding the right fonts, and even using print materials to make a consistent positive impression, no matter where your audience comes across your brand.

3. Stand up straight and make eye contact

This means embracing at least a couple of social media platforms and posting to them regularly. It means using content to spread your message. It means putting your brand out there on a regular basis, whether through blog posts, webinars, speaking gigs, or interviews.

4. Speak their language

Want to communicate effectively with your audience? Speak their language.

Go back to tip one: it’s easy to pick up the language if you listen closely on social media, in your blog comments, and even in your email replies. Notice the phrases your audience uses to express their frustrations and challenges.

If you want to get even more hands-on, consider conducting a series of interviews with a focus group.

Last year, I asked Big Brand System readers to volunteer to be in a focus group. I called twelve people individually and asked them a series of questions. In exchange, they could ask me a question or get my feedback on something.

It was the most satisfying — and productive — market research I’ve ever done.

Yes, it took time and effort to coordinate and implement. But when it was done, I had pages of notes that were like gold to me. I knew intimately what my audience was frustrated with, how they spoke about those frustrations … and even what I could do to help.

5. Direct their eyes to your best attributes

In the course of your marketing you’ll need to emphasize your latest promotion, your next big offer, or even your free giveaway.

The most efficient way to draw attention to this offer — whether it’s on the web or in print — is to set it apart visually.

Reader Comments (22)

Love that you ended with “be yourself”. This is something my team is learning a lot about, and I think we’re getting there but we have a ways to go.

It’s easy to start comparing yourself and to try and be someone you’re not – especially with access to so many different sites and businesses. But being yourself always has been the best way to grow. Thanks for awesome post!

I agree here, thanks for these tips. I think Justin’s comment is extremely important. In fact, “Be Yourself” is a candidate for the number 1 position on this list.

Most brands spend way too much time trying to appeal to as many people as possible, dissecting their audience to create some type of engineered experience that appeals to the largest swath of people.

This is traditional management doctrine but in the long run it’s ineffective. First decide what you really want to accomplish in the world, and approach that goal with your authentic self and integrity. By definition you will be unique.

Marketing this way means the right people, your people, will then find you and you will find them.

David, I put “Be yourself” last on purpose. I find people tend to remember the last point you make, and I wanted to leave it as a parting thought.

I agree that one of the most common marketing errors is to try to appeal to an audience that’s too broad and undefined. It’s counterintuitive to narrow your focus, but it’s the only thing that really works.

#3 resonates with me. Confidence is key. The web makes it easy to compare ourselves and see our shortcomings, but having confidence in what you do and how you do it will certainly help you stand up straight and make eye contact much better.

These are excellent tips, Pamela, but I’m not sure I’d agree they’re all ‘easy’! Your first point, for example, about getting to know your audience well and working out a really clear brand message, is very challenging. Like Liz, I like your point about having confidence in your own message – also the importance of just getting out there and being yourself. Effective communication, of course, is the key – and you’re right to point out that it starts with listening.

Hopefully, you will be yourself and not wear a mask and hide who you really are, which brings me to Point 3, “Stand up straight and make eye contact.”

Don’t be afraid to be different. You don’t have to have a “cookie-cutter” looking website like your competitors. Stand out. Embrace your uniqueness. Just make sure your website is easy to navigate.

Also, you don’t have to be on every social media platform. It’s okay if you prefer Twitter over Pinterest. It’s okay if you prefer Google+ over Facebook. All that matters is that your audience can find you and is benefiting from what you post.

And… don’t worry if you haven’t implemented a weekly podcast or video series. Take baby steps. You’ll get to where you want to go. It’s better to do things right versus doing them half-assed.

Businesses also need to remember the benefits of a good value proposition. Although the point to one is covered in your post (direct their eyes to your best attributes), you failed to mention it. I wrote a blog post that covered them:

I love this ! I have been working with some big name sports teams, and I don’t watch sports. I sometimes feel myself at a disadvantage because of this. I am now going to get NOSEY and educate myself in the right areas so I can grab more attention. Thanks for the post !

Nice stuff Pamela, and good to see Copyblogger covering “total communication” as well as copywriting. Knowing the key message elements to connect with your audience and using “visual language” as part of that are things I’m working on too.